A Kickstarter campaign to help raise funds for Special FX Master is drawing grassroots attention and excitement. The product offers kids and adults the ability to create smartphone and tablet videos featuring striking live special effects that utilize Augmented Reality technology. The campaign has a goal of raising $20,000 to help make Special FX Master become a reality and will end on November 5th.

Special FX Master combines an augmented reality app and physical props for a unique video making experience. First users have to download the free app, then select from five physical props that each contain special effects and then they can get creative and begin filming. The Special FX Master app uses augmented reality to read codes on the props and replace them with awesome special effects. Unlike other apps, Special FX Master lets users see the effects in real time as they film.

The designer toy blog Plastic and Plush writes:

Since we do live in this new world of posting photos and videos to Facebook and other social media platforms, I see this as a way of stepping up your game. You think your kid riding a bike is so great? Mine just blew a hole in the wall with his wrist mounted laser gun.

Mom blog Pretty Opinionated said:

This thing is beyond cool! I had so much fun playing with it myself, I almost didn’t want to hand it over to my son!

I love how it really encourages kids to use their imaginations while still allowing them to use their favorite thing: technology. Our children live in a digital age, and while we want to limit their screen time as much as possible, we really need to come up with more ways to incorporate their passion for tech into our desire to keep them both active and imaginative. Special FX Master does both.